Hunter Harvests Rarest of the Rare Nilgai Bull

When Jason Hagan and his buddies booked and prepared for their upcoming South Texas nilgai hunt, dreams of monster ‘blue bulls’ began racing in each hunter’s head. “Expectations” began to get a little out of control with thoughts of seeing (and harvesting) something truly rare in the ‘nilgai world’. Little did Jason know at the time, but his lofty expectations were about to come to fruition…

“3-Horn Nilgai” by Jason Hagan

We drove down to Raymondville, Texas on Saturday night to meet with the guides on Sunday morning. Everyone was a little concerned because it was pouring rain, cold and did not look like it was going to let up.  Sunday morning we met with our guides and went out to the ranch.  The guides gave us our instructions and took us out to start the stalk. The first nilgai we spotted was close to 300 yards away and while glassing him we notice he only had one horn, so we started looking at another bull that stepped out. My friend was not going to give up on “one horn” so he kept the binoculars on him. As I was getting ready to set up on the second bull my friend told me one horn bull was not actually one horned at all,  “he has a DROP TINE!”

We all initially laughed and said “sure he does” in disbelief, but something told me that I better take another look. I slowly turned my rifle on the sticks and found him in my rifle scope. Sure enough, I noticed one of his horns growing in a really odd direction.  While watching him we discussed if this would be a good one to shoot.  The guide stated he had never seen one like this before. Well that did it for me! I asked for on more quick range before deciding to take the shot. The nilgai stood at 276 yards.

The shot and hit was rock solid enough to take him to the ground, but he got right back up (which broke my heart). We tracked him the same as any other animal and 60 yards of tracking there he was. I was so happy to kill this oddity! I was really surprised upon walking up on my downed bull and discovering that he actually sported three horns instead of two!

Kirafu Exotic Auction – March 24th & 25th

If you are looking to add exotic hoofstock to your ranch or sell excess animals, Kifaru Exotics might just be your place.  Located just outside of Lampasas, Texas, Kirafu will be holding it’s 1st exotic auction of 2012 this weekend.

Event: Kirafu Exotic Animal Auction
Date: March 24/25, 2012
Location: 10831 South Highway 183, Lampasas, Tx 76550
(13 miles south of Lampasas)

Kirafu Exotics offers consignors and buyers the most state-of-the-art facility of its kind in the world for the safe care and handling of exotic animals and birds.  Jurgen  Schulz, an internationally known exotic animal supplier and his associates, have the knowledge, contacts, resources and experience to offer the finest auction services available for trade of wild and exotic animals and birds. The results of Schulz’s success in capturing and trans-location of rare and endangered species can be seen today in zoos around the world, and continues through the  Kifaru Exotic Animal  Auction.

“Whether buying or selling,  Kifaru is where the legacy continues”

For more information or future auction dates, contact Kirafu Exotics @ 512-556-8251 or visit their website – www.KirafuExotics.com

S. Dakota Bison Ranch Reaches 7-Figure Mark

Bison A Popular, Healthier Alternative To Other Red Meats

Kristine Hanson

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Dan O’Brien, the owner of a 3,200-acre ranch in Rapid City, S.D., had been raising a few buffalo with his wife since 1997. But the hobby was proving costly.

“We wanted to make this a better place for our (buffalo) herds,” said the 64-year-old, a wildlife biologist. “The way to do that was to play the business card.”

Dan decided to farm buffalo for commercial consumption.

In recent years, bison has become more popular as a healthier alternative to other red meats, because it is leaner and has lower cholesterol.

Demand for the meat grew 10 percent in 2011, the sixth straight year of double-digit growth, according to the National Buffalo Association.

Wild Idea Buffalo Co. (wildideabuffalo.com) — which raises and processes meat from herds of bison in South Dakota — started on a small scale in 1997.

“The first year we slaughtered three or four buffalo and sold them to family and friends,” Dan said. “We sent out 50 or so boxes.”

In December, Wild Idea, bolstered by the opening of their processing plant in May, crossed over the $1-million-in-revenues mark, essentially doubling its business from the year prior. To staff the new plant, they hired 10 more employees, bringing the total to 14.

[Read more here>>>http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/30665712/detail.html]

 

Win $25 at Bass Pro with AAE Bracketology

March is great for 3 things: Turkeys, Exotics and MARCH MADNESS!!

We just set up an AllAboutExotics.com Bracket Group on Yahoo!  Fill out a FREE bracket and pick against the AAE Crew!!  When it all shakes out, the WINNER will receive a $25 Bass Pro Gift Card & AAE Gift Pack!!  There will also be prizes awarded for 2nd-4th place!! Show off your picking prowess!!  To fill out your bracket, simply go to Yahoo! Sports >> Join A Group >> enter the group info below:

Group ID: 196507
Password: axisdeer

You can also follow this link to join the AAE Group and fill out your bracket:

http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/group/196507/invitation?key=f0b8f2d6ca7f0a12

Time is ticking, tip-off starts tomorrow at 12:15am ET!

Good Luck and spread the word!!  All AAE fans are invited to join and play along!!